Adjustable crossover for electric wires.



' No. ss3,|a2. Patented Sept. |9, I899.

J. E. BLAKESLEY.

ADJUSTABLE GROSSOVER FUR ELECTRIC WIRES.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PA PENT- @FFIQE.

JAMES E. BLAKESLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE CROSSOVER FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 633,182, dated September 19, 1899.

4 Application filed February 20, 1899- Serial No. 706,207. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES E. BLAKESLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Crossovers for Electric Wires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a switch or crossover to be used for electric'wires at their points of intersection, and while it is more especially designed to be used at the intersection of streets for trolley-wires, yet it may be employed at other places and for electric wires used forotherpurposes; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement,an d operation of the parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a crossover piece or device which shall be adjustable, simple in construction, and lighter in weight than those heretofore in general use; second, to shorten as much as possible the insulated or non-electric-conducting portion which must be employed in one of the supporting-arms, and, third, to afford a continuous bearing for the trolley-wheels.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which= Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crossover, showing the arms thereof at angles to one another and the manner of securing the electric wires. in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation ofthe device when in position for use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on line at 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on'line 0 6 of Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents the upper arm and B the lower arm, which cross each other and are pivotally secured together at their central portions, so as to be adjusted to any desired angle with respect to each other. The arm A is composed of a metallic piece A, having on its upper surface, near its ends, longitudinal groovesa to receive the wire a, which is held in place byelenching or clamping the portions of the arm forming the grooves on the wire, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The lower central portion of the metallic part A of the upper arm is formed with a recess 1) and provided with mortisesb at the ends of said recess to receive and engage, respectively, the wooden or non-electric-conducting portion A of the upper arm, which is provided at its ends with tenons b to fit and be secured in said mortises. The portion A is tapering in cross-section in its lower surface, as shown in Fig. 5, and is inclined toward its external ends and is provided with tenons b to engage mortises b in the lower metallic portion A of the upper arm, which is formed circular at its central portion, with inwardly rounded or inclined extensions b which,together with the rounded and inclined portions of the part A afford a guide for the trolleywheel. The lower portion of. the wooden part A is recessed about its middle, as shown at b, to permit of the lower wire passing thereunder at the desired angle.

The lower arm B is made of one piece of metal having in its upper surface near its ends longitudinal groove a for the reception and retention of the trolley-wire, which, as before stated in regard to the upper arm, is held in position by having the sides or portions forming said grooves clamped or clenched thereon. The central portion of the lower arm is substantiallycircular and is secured to the upper arm by means of a screw or pivot c, which fits in a suitable socket c in the downward projection c of the central metallic portion A of the upper arm. The extensions 01 of the lower arm are taperingin cross-section in their lower portions and extend centrally under the metallic portion A of the upper arm, while the central or circular portion of the lower arm B rests on the upper surface of the metallic portion A as will be clearly understood by reference to the drawings. The extensions and d are each provided on their sides with flanges e, which are slightly inclined, as shown, so as to cause the flanges of the trolley-wheel to contact therewith and to travel smoothly across the central portion of the crossover.

By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the'cross-sectionally-tapering portions of the upper and lower arms do not meet at their inner ends, thus allowing space for the passage of the trolley-wheels, which are guided by said portions until they reach the central portion of the metallic piece A when they will impinge its lower surface in their travel. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will also be understood that the only nonelectric-conducting portions which the trolley-wheel is required to pass over on the upper arm is that located between the mortises I) on the upper metallic portion of the upper arm and the mortises in the lower metallic portion A of said arm, and by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the trolley traveling on the lower arm will have an unbroken electric conducting-guide.

, Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of an upper arm having its central portion insulated, with a metallic portion secured on said insulated part, a lower arm pivotallysecm'ed between the'insulated part of the upper arm and said metallic portion, substantially as described.

2. The combination of an upper arm havin g its central portion insulated and provided with means on its upper surface to retain the electric wire, with a metallic portion secured on said insulated part, a lower arm pivotally secured between the insulated part of the upper arm and said metallic portion, and provided on its upper surface with means to secure the electric wire, substantially as described.

3. The combination of an upper arm having its extremities inclined, and its central portion provided with an inclined insulatingpiece, with a metallic portion sccu red on said insulating-piece and provided on its lower surface with extensions for the guidance of the trolley-wheel, a lower arm pivotally secured between the insulating-piece of the upper arm and said metallic portion and having inclined extensions, substantially as described.

JAMES E. BLAKESLEY.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. G. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN. 

